Medieval Weather: The struggle for social and economic survival

Historical analyzation provides us with a representation of the ways in which individual societies and cultures interacted, adapted and survived throughout their existence on earth. The immense variation of social and economic values throughout the existence of humanity is determined by one universal influence, the relationship between man and the natural world. Environmental influences have shaped the ways in which past and present societies operate, this relationship forced innovation and evolution amongst humanity throughout history creating a basis for future generations to learn and build from. The representation of historical documentation is so important for understanding the true transformation of mankind in the present day. It provides us with the ability to see the ways in which certain societies and cultures survived through times of environmental grace and terror while defining humanities reliance on the natural world.

A prime representation of a time period that struggled with environmental pressure and adaptation was that of the Medieval period throughout Europe. Medieval society’s struggle for survival and development directly correlates with the effects of the natural environment, as each step towards progression was halted with natural disaster. Amongst the culture of Medieval England resided a deep sense of uncertainty and fear, the focus for survival outweighed the importance for social and economic advancement. Life expectancy, reproduction and human health were a main cause for concern as disease and famine reigned ramped throughout Medieval populations across Europe. Climatic variation and environmental damage immobilized the development and growth of natural resources within these areas, stunning any hopes of economic expansion.  The chances of the common Medieval citizen becoming successful were slim to none, so the focus resided on survival which restrained the expansion of innovation and change within society. Environmental conditions and climatic variation during the Medieval ages confined the progression among members of society, their inability to adapt to their surroundings set back the enhancement of societal operation for generations to follow.

Extreme Weather and Famine in Medieval Europe
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The lack of creativity and innovation during the Medieval ages created a massive disadvantage within societies battle with the natural world. The infrastructure of towns and cities across Medieval Europe lacked protection to the effects of storms and natural disasters, which caused mass amounts of damage and fatalities. These people had little to no understanding of environmental patterns and tendencies, creating a high sense of vulnerability amongst their protection and preparation for natural occurrences. The resources and knowledge they contained left populations without a fighting chance for survival. Environmental pressure created chaos throughout Medieval Europe, as death and disease spread throughout with no cure in sight. The difficulty of life during this time was directly related to the inability to adapt to the deteriorating natural aspects. In order to gain a complete comprehension of our present-day society, one must first understand the influence of past civilizations and the ways in which they provided structure for generations to continually evolve. Although the Medieval period could be seen as a time of regression, it could also represent the battle and perseverance of mankind during this time of environmental disaster. This period provided the basis for generations who followed, to learn from their struggle and formulate ways in which they can better the lives of their people. Historical analysis will always provide us with the ability to comprehend the ways in which societies like those in Medieval Europe lived and adapted to their natural influences. The relationship between man and the natural world has always been and will always be the most crucial to our survival on earth.    

Sources:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-0289.2009.00492.x

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-013-0750-7

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/201169368_Historical_Climatology_In_Europe_-_The_State_Of_The_Art